The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-20
WASHINGTON NOTES.

Grounds-The Philanthropist Corco-
ran.
WASHINGTON, June 1S.-Hundreds of
thousands of dollars have been spent in inn
proving the grounds around the capitol,
and they certainly present very attractive
appearance. The marble terraces which
were begun in 1884 are beginning to show
how beautiful they will be, and
those who have not visited the capitol for
three or four years would now hardly recog-
niZe the grounds.
l. By December next the north staircase,
that is the one north of the western centre
| of the edifice, but on the west side, must be
done. The other staircase and the whole
| terrace structure must be entirely finished
| by June ! 1858. There will then be two
| grand staircases, the no1theInmost APP
preached by the walk from the Pennsylva-
MIA avenue entrance, and the southern one
by that from Maryland avenue, where the
| Garfield statue stands. All concede who
have seen what is now completed of the
terrace that it improves the appearance of
| the exterior of the capitol beyond the power
| of anyone to imagine who has not observed
| 1t, and contrasted it with the views of the
building when it seemed to stand directly
upon the ground, or like statue without
| pedestal
| A great portion of the works on the new
terrace does not show, being wholly beneath
the surface of the ground, for it was neces-
| sary to dig down from twenty to twenty
| five feet to get a solid foundation because it
was all made ground. 1t is believed that a
| ravine with water in it used to be just UNI
| der where the terraces now are at the base
| of the west front of the main building.
NEWSPAPER FILES
| The library of the United States ought to
| the Countrywide storehouse out of which
the history of the people will be written. Its
| newspaper files are now comparatively
| few and comparatively imperfect. 1t
| has complete files of some of the Phil
adelphia, New York and Boston news
| papers and some of the newspapers pub
| lished elsewhere. But its collection
| does not begin to compare in variety or in
value with that in the possession of the
| American Antiquarian Society," at Worces-
| ter. Mass probably the most complete col
lection of American newspapers in exist
ence. Yet this collection at Worcester is
| full of yawning gaps. There is in the
Library of the United States an absolutely
| complete collection of American newspapers
for just one day. 1t was gathered through
the census agents in 1880. The Super
| intendent of the Census asked
the publishers of the newspapers
and periodicals throughout the country
to send copies of their publications here
each to be of the date of July 4, or as near
that day as possible. They all responded al
! though the request had to be repeated in
some cases. The newspapers had to be filed
| alphabetically by places of publication in
the several States, the newspapers of each
State being together III portfolios and so de-
posted in the Library of the United States.
The periodical press was deposited in groups
| having the same subject matter.
LITTLE LAND SPECULATION.
We think that Gardiner Hubbard has
been very fortunate in turning over his $30,-
| 600 investment in suburban real estate so as
to get S250,OO0 out of it, 1t is the biggest
success ever known in Washington. But it
is just no success at all compared with the
| real estate speculation | was told of to-day.
| Out in Cincinnati there is a company which
owns a city in Florida. The COM
pany gave the city saints name,
country, chiefly in the rural press,
with an alluring map showing the
| city lots, the churches, the school houses
| and the public buildings, or at least the sites
set apart for them. Lots in this magical
city were offered at fabulously low rates.
The best corner lots cost only IS, and other
lots could be had at ST. So and 81, and even
! 81 apiece. A warranty deed with big red
seal accompanied each and every lot and
l don't know but that a Huckleberry
watch was thrown in. 1.-THE World
is full of suckers" so a local real estate
operator said to me the other day, and they
rose to this tempting bait with unusual
| alacrity. The new company soon had as
large daily mail as the Oldest merchant In
Cincinnati. Inquiries soon began to come
to the Post Office Department as to whether
| this concern was honest and its promises
Trustworthy The Post Office Department,
| in the exercise of one of its socialistic func-
tions, proceeded to investigate the concern
preparatory to determining whether or not
it should be forbiddep the mails. The com
pany was very frank. IL showed its books
to the Department with the consciousness of
virtue. From these the Department learned
| that the concern had carried out all its
pledges. Every investor had actually re-
ceived valid title with warrant to a lot in
tract of ground in Florida owned by the
concern. But it also learned that the ''city'
| cost the concern just 5000, while it had re-
ceived up TO that date $l0S,000 and had
sold only about one-sixth of the lots. There's
money making for you
GETTING EVEN WITH TELLER.
There is in Washington a small boy, not
more than 10 years OF age, whose indulgent
mother keeps him well supplied with pocket
! money. This young man opened an ac-
count with the local savings bank some time
ago, and on April he had on deposit there
about $35. Two or three days ago he had a
falling out with the teller of the institution.
For nearly a week he tried TO think up
some method of settling the score, and
at last he hit upon plan. HIS went
TO the bank and drew out $50 from
his store. Then he went over to the
Treasury building, which is just across the
street, and had his three items" converted
into thirty zones" Next he proceeded to
make out thirty deposit slips, each for ST.
These he carried TO the bank, one at a time,
compelling the poor teller to make thirty
separate entries in his books. The following
day this young flend again drew out $50
Again be visited the Treasury, but this
time he had his money changed into silver
quarters, bright from the mint. One hun
dred and twenty deposit tickets were then
prepared, and a corresponding number of
entries had to be made in that unfortunate
teiler's big books. Then for three days an
aimistice was declared, but at the
end of that time $50 was again drawn
out, and this time when the boy visited
tine Treasury buildiug IL WINS dimes